Clean & Simple Christmas Card with the Red Nose Stamp Set | C.C. Designs October Release Hop

The holidays are just around the corner, and I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year when my craft table is covered in bits of plaid paper, glitter cardstock, and coffee cups that seem to multiply overnight. For today’s C.C. Designs October Release Instagram Hop, I decided to create a clean and simple Christmas card featuring the adorable Red Nose Stamp Set. This one was so much fun to make because it combines everything I love—classic Christmas characters, warm pattern paper, and just enough sparkle to make it festive without going overboard.

Clean & Simple Christmas Card with the Red Nose Stamp Set | C.C. Designs October Release Hop

A Classic Holiday Pair You’ll Love

The Red Nose Stamp Set immediately brought a smile to my face the first time I saw it. Santa and Rudolph are two of those timeless Christmas icons that never go out of style, and they’re the perfect pair for a card that’s both playful and heartwarming. I grew up watching all those vintage Christmas specials, and as soon as I stamped these images, I was reminded of those cozy childhood evenings watching Rudolph’s nose light up the screen.

For this design, I wanted to keep things cheerful but simple—something that could easily be recreated for holiday cardmaking without spending hours on each card. The trick is letting these characters shine while keeping the layout structured and cohesive.

Mixing Patterns Without the Chaos

Patterned paper can be intimidating, especially when you’re combining more than one. The key is to mix designs with different scales and a common color palette. I used three coordinating patterns from the Santa’s Workshop 6 x 6 Paper Pack by Scrappy Boy Stamps—gingerbread men, candy canes, and a warm plaid. Each one brings a touch of personality, but because they share similar tones of red, green, and brown, they work beautifully together instead of competing for attention.

Pro Tip: When mixing patterned papers, try balancing one bold pattern with a smaller, more subtle design. Think of it like decorating a Christmas tree—you want a little variety, but too much and the magic gets lost.

Once I had the background arranged on a top-folding A2 card base cut from Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock, I knew I wanted to create circular focal points for Santa, Rudolph, and my sentiment. Circles add softness and repetition to a design, and repeating shapes is a great way to unify your layout.

Sparkle, Dimension, and a Touch of Warmth

I stamped Santa and Rudolph onto Hammermill 100 lb Smooth Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink—a favorite combination for coloring with alcohol markers. I colored them with my Triblend Markers, keeping the palette classic: reds, browns, and a pop of white for highlights. I love how these markers make blending quick and easy, which is perfect when you’re making multiple cards or working through your Christmas list.

After coloring, I used circle dies to cut out the characters and the “ho ho ho!” sentiment. To keep everything cohesive, I softly ink-blended the edges with Memento Toffee Crunch Ink. It’s a small detail, but that warm beige tone adds depth and ties the whole card together. Each circle was then layered onto slightly larger circles of red glitter cardstock—it adds just the right amount of sparkle to catch the light without overpowering the design.

Pro Tip: When working with glitter cardstock, use a strong adhesive or foam tape to ensure it sticks securely. The texture can sometimes make it tricky to adhere, but foam tape gives you that extra grip and dimension all at once.

Finishing Touches That Make It Shine

To pull everything together, I added tiny white highlights and faux stitching lines around the circles using my White Extra Fine Metal Tip Paint Marker. It’s one of those little details that gives a hand-finished look and makes the design feel intentional. Then came my favorite part—adding sparkle! I used Stardust Stickles on Santa’s hat, beard, and jacket cuffs, plus a little dab on Rudolph’s nose for that signature glow.

Finally, I sprinkled a few red rhinestones across the design to add balance and shine. I always say rhinestones are like jewelry for your cards—they add that final bit of polish that makes everything sparkle just a little brighter.

Make It Your Own

What I love most about this card layout is how easy it is to customize. You could swap in gold glitter cardstock for a more traditional look, use different patterned papers from your stash, or even replace the sentiment circle with another image from the Red Nose Stamp Set. The design is simple enough to make in multiples but has enough personality to stand out in a stack of holiday cards.

Pro Tip: When batch-making cards, prep all your pieces first—cut your paper, die-cut your circles, and stamp your images. Then assemble in stages. It keeps the process efficient and a lot more enjoyable.

Join the Hop

This card is part of the C.C. Designs October Release Instagram Hop! There’s so much inspiration waiting for you, and a few surprises along the way, so make sure to head over to Instagram and hop along. If you’re inspired to create your own version of this Red Nose card, tag me—I’d love to see what you come up with.

Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Crafting,

Rick Adkins

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